As lunchtime approached, Ariante, claiming to be hungry, repeatedly pulled Maiana’s hand.

Near the village square, there were many street stalls selling snacks. Ariante couldn’t take her eyes off freshly fried bread or honey-sauce-drizzled baked potatoes. Even though these were foods she had never seen before, her expression showed an irresistible desire to eat.

“Maiana, that! What’s that? Tell me!”

Maiana looked at the cart Ariante was pointing to. Rather than a stall, it looked like a tent attached to a cart, selling stick snacks dipped in syrup made from melted brown sugar.

Children handed coins to the merchants and lingered in front of the cart for a long time, each choosing a longer snack.

“Sweets dipped in syrup, Your Ladyship.”

“Can’t I eat that?”

“After having a meal. I’ll buy it for you later as a snack.”

“But I want to eat that! I can have that for lunch.”

“Only adults can eat snacks for lunch.”

At Maiana’s casual response, Ariante widened her eyes and opened her mouth as if she had heard the most unfair words in the world.

“Where does that exist? Why can adults eat only snacks for lunch?”

“Well, adults don’t have other adults nagging at them. But for young children like Your Ladyship, there’s an adult who nags. Right now, I’m that adult. So, you can’t have snacks for lunch. After you finish your meal, I’ll buy you any snack you want.”

Ariante kicked the ground with her tiptoe.

“Annoying! When I become an adult, I’ll eat only snacks.”

Maiana chuckled quietly and, holding Ariante’s hand firmly, coughed slightly.

“Well, go ahead. When Your Ladyship becomes an adult, no one will nag at you. Umm… What would you like to eat? Your Ladyship, is there anything you want to have?”

“I want to eat that snack.”

“Except for the snack.”

Her small lips pouted, and she sulked. She scanned the building with eyes full of dissatisfaction, giving the impression that there was nothing pleasing to her.

Then, a delicious smell wafted in from somewhere. Both Maiana and Ariante turned their heads.

“A delicious smell.”

Ariante’s words were followed by Maiana nodding.

“Yes, it does. What’s this smell? Ah, there’s a pie shop over there. I think the smell is coming from there.”

“Can we eat pie for lunch?”

Maiana nodded.

“They also sell soup and other things. Do you want to have pie?”

“I want to eat! And I’ll eat snacks too.”

She didn’t forget about snacks. Maiana looked back at the lively stall with a slightly anxious expression. If the stick snacks sold out while they were eating, the stall owner would happily go home…

It would be a small disaster for Maiana. A huge misfortune for Ariante.

The source of the appetizing smell turned out to be the pie shop. More than ten tables were crowded with customers, indicating its popularity. Maiana managed to secure a small table inside with Ariante.

Ariante seemed a bit surprised seeing the crowded restaurant. In the mansion, she always dined alone in the vast dining room or only in her room. Hence, the bustling atmosphere didn’t seem to suit her.

“There are so many people.”

“It’s lunchtime. Wouldn’t other people be hungry, just like Your Ladyship? Hmm… What should we have? Ah, Your Ladyship. There’s something delicious here. There’s a pie with sweet potatoes and bacon. Would you like to try this?”
Other vegetables besides potatoes were also included, but there was no need to mention that. As Ariante nodded, Maiana called a waiter and ordered two pieces of pie, today’s soup, and a salad with baked salmon.

Ariante was still holding the paper balloon she received from the clown, playing with it. Since it wasn’t high-quality paper, it already had stains from being carried around, and there were marks from sweaty hands.

“How is this made?”

“The paper balloon? Well… I’ve never made one before.”

“If it were Marcel, he would have known.”

A small wheat bread with olives arrived. Maiana tore off the side with olives and put it into Ariante’s mouth, asking,

“Did Marcel know a lot like that?”

Ariante, who was chewing the bread and swallowing it with a gulp, shone her blue eyes.

“Yeah, he knew everything! Really.”

Seeing that, Maiana once again thought that it would be nice if Ariante had friends her age.

Even if she adjusted to Ariante’s eye level, playing with peers and communicating was as different as heaven and earth.

“Your Ladyship, what if you meet a friend of similar age?”

While Ariante was playing with the paper balloon, she opened her mouth like a baby bird. Maiana added another piece of bread and asked again,

“A friend you can play with, like Marcel. Wouldn’t that be good for Your Ladyship too?”

“Where can I meet them?”

After thinking for a moment, Maiana answered,

“Well, how about hosting a tea party? Sending invitations to houses with young ladies or young lords of similar age to Your Ladyship. Then, everyone would come to drink tea and play with you, wouldn’t they?”

Ariante said,

“My father has to be there for that.”